Miami Travel Guide

It's Saturday night, and though a drizzle threatens, the lawn is jammed with children snoozing in strollers, couples sprawling on picnic blankets, teens taking a break from skateboarding. The star appears — not some retread boomer rocker but high-octane conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, affiliated with in London and San Francisco, and Miami's New World Symphony, a prestigious youth development academy.

MIAMI — Just because the moonlight bike tours and guided swamp walks have ended for the season and most of the migratory birds have moved on doesn't mean there's no reason to visit the Everglades this spring and summer.

MIAMI — In a year when three new Miami-Dade hotels drew widespread attention — and two landed on a travel magazine's list of hot new properties —— it's easy to forget that the region's hotel industry is still climbing out of a recession.

Shopping abounds in Miami. From South Beach to the malls, there is something for everyone in South Florida. From the hip Design District to the fashion savvy areas of Coral Gables and Bal Harbour, every shopper's dreams are met in Miami.

Known for bling and Beyonce sightings, Miami isn't usually celebrated for its affordability. So how do you have a financially-feasible getaway in this city filled with glitz and glamour? Enjoy it like a local. According to the Miami Downtown Development Authority, it's one of the fastest-growing urban centers in the United States, boasting an 85 percent occupancy rate. Clearly, even with the current economy, frugal strategies exist to experience this star-studded city on the water that many consider out of vacation reach. Here are several you can use to enjoy your Miami getaway without going off budget.

As the gateway to the Americas, Miami is home to restaurants, shops and streets that feel as though you've stepped off one continent and onto another. Shots of Cuban coffee are available almost anywhere in Miami's Little Havana, including convenience stores. In certain areas, everyone greets customers with "hola," never "hello."

Is it too rainy or too sunny to be outdoors? If so, spend your day inside at one of South Florida's museum. You can learn about anything from science experiments and fossils to mapping the stars and alligator wrestling.

If you -- or the kids -- feel like you just gotta get out and really move, try this selection of skateparks, ice rinks and recreation and game centers. Activities range from go-karts and batting cages to video games and rock climbing.

When Ponce de Leon discovered what would become the Sunshine State, he christened it "La Florida," which roughly translates from Spanish as "land of the flowers." Throughout South Florida, many public gardens show off the astonishing variety of plants, trees and flowers that so impressed the Spanish explorer.